Apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid materials to the action of a current of gases.



, E. B. KIBBY. A APPARATUS FOR SUBJECITING SUBDIVIDED soup MATEHIALS TO THE ACTION OF A CURRENT or cA'sEs..

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 2|. I914. I 1 281,585 Patented Oct. 15, I918.

- -5 $HEET$SHEET l lizz/rzf yd.

JAWZM m Wain essayv ELB. KIRBY.

,wmws FOR SUBJECTING susmvmso souo MATERIAESTO THE Acmm or A CURRENT or GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2|. I914" 1,281,585. Patented 0%.15, mm

6 SH EETS--SHEEI 2.

1 E. B. KIRBY. 1 APPARHATUS {0R SUBJECTINB SUBDIVIDED S'OL'IDMATERIALS TO THE ACTION OF A CURRENT 0r GA-SES.

7 APPLICATION FILED IULYZIUIQN. 1,281,585; r Patented Oct. 15,1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 I lIIII 117/1 II 1/ III emww v E. B. KIRBY. 1 APPARATUS FORSUBJECTING SUBDWHJEDSbLID MATERIALS TO THE ACTIONOF A CU RRENIUF GASES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2|. 1914. I

1,281,585. Patented"0ct.15, l918..

s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPARATUSFOB sumcrmc SUBDIVIDED soun' mmnms TO THE ACTION on CURRENLOF GASES. APPLICATION mm JULY 2| m4 Patented 0ct.15,,l918.-

l e suns-sun 5.

To all whom it may concern.-

STATES PATENT Q imam 14. mm, or an Louis, mrssonal.

uraaarrus non. su'mao'rmo sunzorvmnn somn ma'rnmans To run onor or a.

' cnnnnm' or means. a

Speoiuoation of Letters Patent.

Application fled July 21, 1914. Serial 1w. sauce.

Be it known that I,'E1 MUNo B. Know, a: citizen of the United States, resid ng at St. Louis, in the county'of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for subjecting Subdivided Solid Materials to the Action of a Current of Gases, of

' which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

The object ofthis invention is to rovide an apparatusb which to quick y and definitely establ'is control, and regulate, at all stages of the operation, the temperature of the individual ins of a mass of materlal, such as cru ed ore'and the chemical compositionof the gases in direct contactv with'said'individual grains, to the end that desired results may be economically and quickly produced, regardless of the chemical corn osition of the material or its changes, in c enrichl'composition as the roast progresses.

The broadly nii capacity of the apparatus is that it provides for the prompt and definite control ofi the conditions to which the individual grhins of the ore are subiected; whereas prior roasting apparatuses lave been able to merely establish and maintain, in an indefinite and average way, conditions for the mass .as 'a whole, and to give 'each grain turns at all of the varying condiions 1n difl'erent parts of the furnace, or at different stages of the roast; or, as is done in sinter roasting, by adjusting the ore mixture to certain fixed conditions and progressively subjecting the ore .to those conditions.

order to impart a clear understanding of the distinctions between this apparatus and the apparatuses heretofore used, a brief review of the prior art is deemed advisable. I

In the ordinary ore roasting, as. distinguished from sinter roasting, one much used class ofrap aratus is such that constantly and irregu arly varying gases which are produced by the combustion of fuel, mingled irregularly with air admitted at various places is made to sweep rapidly over the surface of the crushed ore, which constitutes nhorizontal layer several inches thick uponthe' hearth of a suitable furnace receprent reach the underlying by lifting tacle. .The poorly mixed current of gas produced escapes up the chimney, with only a portion of its heat, and only a rtionyof its chemical efliciency utilized, since there with the individual grains, but there'are also great differences in the temperature of I ainsthemselves, due to the irregular con notion of heat from various parts of the,

the

furnace, irregularities of radiation of. the

Patented Oct. 15, 1918- gas mixtures which are in actual contact flame fromthe furnace roof and sides u on};

the surface grainsfheatdifferences in chemical composition of the overhead "currains of the mass very slowly and irregnlarf.

Attempts have been mule by stirring, or and dropping, or moving the material 1n the furnace to ive each grain a; turn ahout exposure to all these different conditioiis strying in an indefinite and approximate way toi keep the worst of them within limits. Undrsuch conditions, each grain, obviously has a largerpercentage of lost time, includ dividual experience when it lay excluded ferent parts of the furnace, etc. Moreover any changes in either the temperature or ing every per1od"in .i ts infrom the roasting conditions it required at that stage, and was therefore not progressing. It also has to take its turn at all the iIlJllliOllS conditions presented.

In mufile roasting furnaces, where th gases of fuel combustion do not come in con-:,

tact with the ore, but transmit their heat by conduction through the floor underneath the ore, and by radiation from the roof overhanging it, tem erature changes are produced more slow y and with" greater dilliculty. The air supply admitted to the y muiflehas been more or less well regulated, but this only affects the, conditions to which the mass as a whole is subjectetd, and'does not contr l the conditions to which the i-ndin vidual grains are subjected; and therefore such furnaces are as inefficient as those first mentioned, and the difficulties before mentioned still prevail.

In apparatus for roasting without fuel, where the ore generates its own heat, the general mass conditions are fixed by the air admitted to different portions of the charge, but the operation is subject to the same difiiculties above mentioned.

In sinter roasting a horizontal layer of ore mixture, which has been compounded to have..the required chemical composition (if the native ore did not have that composition) is first ignited by directcontact with a flame or burning fuel, and a current of air is then drawn or blown through it to, supportt the combustion. Allof this layer will be progressively subject to substantially the same fixed unchangeable conditions, with any power of regulation. The action is like that of a fire running through a hay field or through a fuse which has been carefully composed or prepared for it.'-

With the old apparatuses, therefore, mass conditions only were controlled and these imperfectlyat best; and no attempt, even, was made for definitely establishing and controlling and promptly varying conditions to which the individual'grains were subjected. Ore-roasting has not therefore been near] as efficient or economical as itshould be in any case. Moreover, many refinements of the roasting process known to be required, such as confining sulfatization within certain desired limits, avoiding the formation of certain insoluble fer-rites or basic salts, etc, and the sintering of mixtures containing varying proportions of sulfur, 'etc., have been either too expensive to practise, or wholly impossible.

The apparatus herein is constructed upon the I roasting efliciency and refinements possible, there must be-definite and prompt control and regulation, at all stages'of-the roast, of the temperature of each individual grain, and of the chemical composition and temperature of the'gases in direct contact with it; andvlikew'ise that in most cases these conshown and described theory that to make ditions should be substantially auniform as mass, so as to reach'all This current is to all of said individual grains,"-at the same time; but should be capable of quick and definite variations.

\Vith this apparatus the desired coiitrol ofi the conditions to which the individual grains are subjected is attained and all of 'th e'other difiiculties mentioned are remedied by causing a current of prepared gases to flow swiftly through the interstices of the whole of its grains alike.- preheated to the precise temperature required at a distance a'nrdgbefore it comes in contact with the ore,and no externally generated heat, save the 'flameless conduit partitions insaid furnace. is a side elevation of the same mechanism.v Fig. 8 is a Ian view of this same mechanism. Figs..9 and IO are respectively a vertical sec- .struction in which the inggas conduits are differently and 'arranged within the furnace.

1,aa1,sas

heat conveyed by this heated gas current is allowed to reach any portion of the orc.

Means are provided for makin up, by measurement, and closely control ing and regulating the chemical composition of the gas mixture before it comes 1n contact with the ore. The components, which, in ore roasting most common] require regulation, are the rec oxygen, and in some cases, 80,. This regulation of the free oxygen percentage in the current of gases governs the rate of oxidation, and therefore the generation of heat by the material itself. It not only re ulates this additional self generated heat or the mass as a whole, but it alsoafiords a perfectcontrol over the temperatures of those individual grains of the mass, fids, etc. which are ox-idizable, and therefore self heating. By restricting the percentage of free oxygen in the moving current which envelops the grains they may be prevented from heating themselves to an injurious degree above the regulated temperature of the mass. By increasing the percentage of free oxygen while maintaining the temperature of the current, oxidation may be, on the other; hand, stimulated to such rapidity as to cause sintering or fusion when this is desired. Additionally the oxidation may be further intensified by raising the blast pressure so as to have the combustion take place in compressed air.

The apparatus by which these and other desirable results, suggested by the character of the ,ore and its condition, may be brought about, constitutes the present invention as hereinafter described and'definitely pointed out in the claims, and is. shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus in a good practical form. Fig. 2'is a longitudinal vertical section the furnace, showing the constrpction preferred for non-sinter roasting. Fig; 3 is a ,5 is atransverse vertical sectional View through the furnace, wh

en constructed as shownm Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse vercaused to move the Fig.

actuated devices may be tlonal view and a plan view of a furnace. coni ncoming alnd outgo-' such as sul nstructed Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a section and a construction and aggangemcnt of plan view showing a different conduits the furnace chamber. Fig. 13 a vertical section of one of the conduits in Figs. 11 and 12; and Fig. 14 is a horizontal section of one of the conduits shown in'Figs. 9 and 10.

The apparatus comprises a number of appliances operatively connected. It is shown in Fig. l in its most complete form,=' as adapted for use with all kinds of ores, and

for the production of all possible desirable effects upon them, as there shown, it 1ncludes a furnace'chamber 1, for holding theore in sucha way that the current or blast of;

prepared ases may be forcedjthrough interstices 0 said ore; a pressure fan or blower able pipes, as hereinafter described.

A] parts of the apparatus, except the furnace l and the cbmponent parts thereof to be explained, consists of standard or well known appliances, each of which is constructed in a great variety of designs. I do not limit myselfto any particular form or design of any of these individual parts,

selcctil'lg wlmtever suitable deyiceis most readily attainable, atasatisfactory price. lvloreover, for may ores all of the above .rnentioned appliances are not required. For example, it is. selfevident that with some ores either the pressure or the vacuum fan alone can. be made to inove the current. lVith many ores, the dust. and fumeseparating device 5 would not be required.

The hot blast stove 3 shown is of the pipe class. That to say, the stove includes a fuel combustion chamber 3 connected with chimne 13 an oven 3 and numierous Ji e coils 10 in the oven. These are connected in series with the gas supply pipe 11, which leads away from the blast-fan 2, and with the incm'mng gas main" 7. The various coils are also coi'i ncctcd withthe by-pass pipe 12, which conifer the pipe 11 with the gas main 7. In the coils a 'ibyass pipe 12 are valves 11., 12", 315,;- 3 tion of which the blast y the manipulacurrent, may be bypassed as desired from part or all of the pipe coils. a further means of regulation the heating of the oven 3 may he governed by the short circuiting damper 3 between the fireplace 3 and the chimney 13,

The inlet pipe 14 of the blast fan 2 is con nected} with several other pipes through. which it draws the gases a producing the mrtieular gas mixture required. The pipe 156s that through which and it contains valves 17 and 18 ever, provision is Q nation in the air may be drawn; a gaged valve 15 by which' to regulate the size of orifice thwh j" which the air must flow, and thereby to. i late the rate of such [flowz' 16 represents a pipe which may be connectedwith a supply apparatus of any kind of gas which me be required in the gas mixture; and 16 1e the gaged' regulating valve for said pipe. 1

17 represents a pipe which connects pipe 14 with pipe 18 through which the hot exhaust a'ses from the furnace 1 are discharged into chimney 6; and the gaged provide the means for accurately regulatin the mm at whichsaid exhaust gases may sucked mm ipe 14.

19 represents a pipe for connc'fingi e inlet.

pipe 14 with the combustion chamber 3 of p the hot blast stove; and it contains a gaged regulating valve 19.

As many of these gaged regulating va ves may be providedas may be required, andfthey may 'be congas supply pipes with nected with suitable sources of the desired gases. With the construction shown, howmade for-1 preparing, as required for use, V measured and therefore -properlyjlpropor tioned part? of air, and. any other needed s, the ho gaseous acts of fuel comthe ,hot exhaust gaseadi'scharged the ore roasting furnace Iz a'nd', for most, if not all, ore roasting-operationm'theee used singly or in an combination: willfisufice.

ciintaining C0,, and

a gas mixture made up of '00 The ur'nace chamber ,1 is preferably a I rectangular chamber are two 'series'soff thout a top. In it dui'te, which, when the furnace is fillgd withorc, will be buried in the mass of ore group of these conduits will be conneeted with'theinlet main 7 and will be hereinafter. referred to IS incoming gas conduits; while the other group of conduits will beconnected with the ex haust main 8, and will be. hereinafter referred to as the outgoing gas conduits. The conduits'of one group must be arranged; in such juxtaposition group that the incoming as passing through suitable properly dist"'uted gas passages in the incoming gas conduits will flow 'through the interstlced ofthe surrounding mass of ore in-the chamber, andthence into gas passages in the out oing gas conduits. Various'constructionso gas conduits may be employed, and the o enings or passages for the discharge and t e reception of gas may be of various forins. Several forms of conduits are shoivnjinthe drawing,

and will be hereinafter described.

The preferred construction, however, is shown in two specific forms in Figs. 1-. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each of the conduits 25, 35 is a substantiallyvertical hollow leaf or partition, extending across the furnace from side to side "and from the bottom to the top thereof. There may be any required num 11o toi those of the other ber of these close together, so

substantially vertical sheet-like layers 50v which respectively fill said cells. The thickness of each vertical ore sheet,-that is to say, the distance-between adjacent partition-conduits must be such that the current of gas can flow across the interstices of said ore sheet. Alternate partitions 25 are for the incoming blast;

and the intermediate partitions 35 are for the outgoing blast. The partitions are preferably adjustable lengthwise of the furnace to accommodate any changes which may be made in the permeability of the crushed ore, etc.; and they may be hung or supported within the furnace in any convenient way. When, however, the conditions are settled,that is to say, where an apparatus is provided for use continually with one kind of ore only, these partitions may be built as fixed walls her into separate ore cells. These partitions are of course, hollow, or, at least, their operative parts are, and they are con.- nected by suitable pipes 26. 36, with their gas mains 7 and 8 respectivel These partition-00nduits may be made of any material which is best adapted to the nature of the gas employed and the temperatures to which they are subjected. For ordinary roasting,itemperatures and conditions iron will=be found satisfactory; but for higher temperatures refractory mate rials should be used. Gas passages 33 are made through the opposed walls of these conduit-partitions; and they may be of any suitable form and admit of a great variety of design, depending upon the material used in making the partitions, the character of the ore material to betreated, and whether this material will remain non-adherent, or whether it will agglomerate undertreatment. It is desirable to expose as high a percentage as possible of the faces of the ore sheet to the free entry and exit of the gas current. At the same time the crushed ore should be prevented from freely entering the partition conduits through those gas passages or from adhering to and choking said gas passages.

The upper and lower parts of these partition walls are imperforate, and for a considerable distance from their lower ends. In charging the furnace, inert material, Such as roasted ore is packed between the. inperforate lower part of these partition conduits insuflicient;quantity to serve as seal preventing the downward escape of the gas. Next above tliis-. oreand between the perforated walls of the partitions will be packed the unroasted orewvhich is to be this space throughdividing the furnace chain-- treated. Above this and between the hp. perforate upper parts of the partitions will be unroasted ore suliicient in. quantity to act as a seal to prevent the escape upward of the gas. In order that this lifted bodily by neath, it must upper seal may not be the pressure of the gas be either be mad e thick and heavy enouglrto withstand this pressure,

or be'retained by any convenient means which will prevent its upwardmovementbodily. One of the various possible means for thus retaining the top seal is shown in Fig. 2 where the space for the material is constricted at the point 90 just beneath the surface 91 of the top sealing layer 9192. This constricted opening permits the charged material to fall through it. piecemeal but does not permit any upward movement of the mass.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 is particularly suitable for non-sinter roa Each wall of each partition is made Will; a series of miniature eaves 37 located, one above another; and openings beneath these eaves go through the partition walls. The grains of the ore mass roll unr er each eav; at the angle of repose of the material, ieaving a space 38 under each eave open for the passage and distribution of gases. This furnishes an open contact between the gas current and the ore mass longitudinally n der each cave. .The angle at whici. he of each eave slopes outwardly tonard the ore is such asto discharge the ore resting upon it. I

The construction shown in F igs. 3 and 4 is more particularly adapted for sinter roasting,that is for use in connection with ores which agglomerate under treatment. In this construction the sides of the operative parts of the series of rocking slats 40 which form inclined eaves,each slat having four rocking pins 41, one at each corner. The two inner pins of each slat, one ateaeh ex tremity, are mounted in hearings in the framework of the partition conduit. The other two pins at the outer edges of each slat are. mounted in the vertically movable rocking bars 42. After each 'ore roasting operation these bars may be moved up and down, and the slats will. thereby be rocked and clear themselves of the adhering ore particles.

During the roasting operation the ore sheets in theseveral ore cells between partitions are upheld by suitable gates atithe lower ends of said ore cells. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 these gates are formed of flat bars.51 which are secured across the top of a movable ore receiving box 50'. .The bottom of, this bin is formed of transverse flat bars 52 separated so as to leave slots 53 between them. The floor 54 over which this partitionsare made of a l extended slots 55. These slots and arranged relatively to each other.

'1 the upper bars 51 are in position the lower ends ofthe ore cells, the

bars 52 are in position to uncover the i the floor below the box. There cells is going clothe previously ore which had. been discharged into the bars 52which form its bottom and '1 i ts 55 in the floor. When this wed so as to uncover the lower ends I it, ore cells it will close the slots in its l'a'ittom so thatthc ore discharged from the ells will for the time being beheld in il -L box. It lTllGI'GfOfB possible to utilize box a n'leasuring box, by making of that it will hold just the amount of 71 which it is desired to discharge from the ore cells. All of the ore in the ore cells slumld not, of course, be discharged because there should remain in the bottom-of ehch 215 (It a suilioient quat'itity of roasted ore to serve, as above stated, a seal to prevent the downward escape of the ,In some roastingoperations it is. neces' sary to turn out the roasted product in a slut ed or ag 'rlomerated condition, and the urge of the solid cake thus formed res some special. facilities. The-construcown in Figs. 3, and 4 is believed to lotion the lower ends of the ore cells are closed by gates 56 hinged to the lower ends of the partitions. When these gates are allowcdyto swing down, they give a full i.)1')i::1rii;1g,that is an opening quite as wide as the stance between adjacent partitions. The gates may be closed and held closed in Vl1l.l(.)lIlS ways, such as by means of chains attached to them and going up to the top of the furnace; and any suitable chain hold ing de\ es, not shown, may be provided. It

probably necessary also that the partitions in furnace used for sinter roastingb capable of movement. apart far enough 0 release and discharge the cake. Figs. 5, 6,7 and 8 show mean suitable for supporting these partitions in a manner which renders them easily movable, and also shows suitable mechanism capable of being power actuated for so moving them. In this construction each leaf or partition is supported .at its lower end by an axle 60, the ends of which extend well under the walls of the furnace, where rails 64 are provided for the wheel 61, which are fixed to these axles. Each wheel has attached to its side a coarse gear wheel 62 which meshes with-a toothed rack 65 alongside the rail. The forward I a motion of one wheel to a fixed point on its,

track is therefore accompanied by a corresponding movement of the opposite wheel.

ile the roasting of the ore sheets.

will slowly flow out of the bin be-a adapted for sinter roasting. In this which run upon rails and racks at the top of the chamber walls. This upper construc tion is mainly to maintain theleaf or partition in upright position. and not necessarily to carry itsweight. When it is desired to use power for the movement of partitions this is applied'near one end of each lower axle by the following special mechanism,- that is to say, on one side. of the furnace is a longitudinally extended power rod in the form of a channel bar 66, which rod may project beyond the furnace in a position tobe movedbv any suitable mechanism. Coupling and holding mechanismis pro vided for each partition. It includes a frame 67 which is boltedto the rack at the desired position. A movableicoupling block 71 is bored to receive the prolongation of the axle 60. The block 71 is supported by and slides along the frame 67,:and when in normalposition rests with one end against an upstanding stop 72 fast to the frame. I

At the other endof the block ready' to couple with it, stands a. stud 73 which projects up from the power rod 66, which is 'shown'in Fig. 8 at one limit of its stroke, with its stud 73 holding the block against stop 72.

The block 71 carriesjwo spring pawls 75,

76, for engaging the stud 73 and the stop 72 respectively. The spring 77 of pawl #75 tends to hold it free from the stud73, while i i the spring 78 of pawl 76 tends toengage it with stop 7 2. The pawls'are soshaped as-to engage each other like a cam and tappet;

is moved in the direction such as to widenthe ore cell between oneof its faces and the adjacent partition. When the power rod 66 is moved in the o positedirectiori the stud 73 by engaging bl ock 71 will move the i partition back to its normal position; and l 1 the pawl 76 being freed from the pull of cord 80 willengage the stop 72 to hold 'the Q a partition in that position during the next W operation.

roastin ll be understood that the described It wi coupling and holding devices, or some other formof such devices, may be provided at one upper and one lower corner of each part-i.-

tion'; but no attempt has been made to show such devices. in aerial when so erected The construction in Figs. 3, and heretofore described in detail,

adapted for use in performing an kind-of roasting operations on any kind 0 ore. l 3ut itis unnecessarlly complex for non-smtermg roasting. The simpler construction shown enter the exhaust conduits.

'in Figs. 2 and 5 and before. explained is equally well adapted for non-sinter roasting, and additionally it contains means better adapted for controlling the discharge from the furnace of the roasted ore, when said ore is not in an agglomerated condition.

In Figs. 9 to 14 are shown other specific various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the conduits in the furnace.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the inlet and outlet conduits are vertical pipes 80, 81, which are buried in the ore so close together that the gas blast discharged from the inlet conduits will readily flow through the interstices of the ore in substantial contact with all of the individual grains thereof, and will Each conduit;

' in its perforated portion, as shown from 81 to 81'}, may be so constructed as to include a foraminous outer cylinder 82 whose holes are sufficiently small to exclude the ore grains which should be excluded, and this cylinder-is secured around a spider like core I 83 as shown in Fig. 14.

in Fi s. 11 and 12 is shown a construction in which the conduitsare in the form of horizontal inverted troughs 85 which when buried in the ore constitute horizontal conduits arranged in such relation to each other that the gas ischarged into the ore mass from beneath the edges of the incoming conduits will flow through the interstices of said mass in intimate contact with-the individual grains thereof, and will flow out beneath the edges of the outgoing conduits.

It will. of course, be understood that in both of the constructions last referred to. all

of the incoming conduits are suitably connected with' the incoming main, and all of the exhaust conduits are suitably connected with the outgoing main.

It is not to beunderstood that the several different forms of the invention shown exhaust the possibilities of varying theform Without avoiding the essence of the invention. The exhibition of these different forms is merely to make clear the factxthat the eneric invention is not limited to, any specifie construction.

Inusing the described apparatusrit is evident that a current of prepared and preheated gases is caused .to flow swiftly through the interstices of the oremass in direct contact with the individual'grains, so 7 flameless heat conveyed by the current is allowed to reach any portion of the ore.

The definite composition of the gas current and the definite temperature to which it is preheated are under perfect. control in dependently of each other, and are regulated by "being immediately varied as required during the progress of the roasting operation. Any adjustment of temperature made by the stove by-pass valves or of compositlon made by the gas supply valves is felt within a few seconds and with substantial uniformity, by every individual grain of the char e.

Both t e temperature of the current and the percentages of its active components are regulated to the definite points required Within'whatever limits of accuracy may be necessary. The temperature regulation is guided by suitable pyrometers placed in the gas current and also in the charge ofmaterial. The regulation of composition is guided by any suitable devices of the class known in the arts for indicating or determining either continually or at intervals the percentage of any gaseous component to be governed.

The exhaust gases which have passed through the charge may be recirculated through it in any proportion which is found desirable by drawing the desired percentage from the outgoing pipe 18 through the regulating valve 17". This recirculation may be desired to utilize the heat or the unexhausted chemical efliciency of these exhaust gases or to reduce the percentage .of free oxygen in the mixture or for any other reason.

By restricting the percentage of free oxygen in the moving gas current which envelops the grains, they may be prevented from heating themselves to an injurious degree above the regulated temperature of the mass. By increasing the percentage of free oxygen while maintaining temperature of the current, oxidation may be, on the other hand, stimulated with such rapidity as to cause sintering or fusion, when this is desired. The oxidation may be further intensified by also raising the blast pressure, so as to have combustion take place in compressed air. a So also the hot products of combustion of fuel in the stove may be included in the as mixture to any desired extent. This also elps to heat the gas mixture and to dilute its percentage of free oxygen.

Having described my invention. I claim: 1. In an apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid materials to the action of a current of gases. the combination of a rece r tacle for holding the i-natcrial, an incoming partition-conduit within said receptacle having gas discharging apertures buried in the n'iaterial. an outgoing partition -conduit within said receptacle having gas receiving position of the conduits'being such that there will be an adequate flow of gases from the incoming to the outgoing conduits through the interstices of the intervening material, means for causing such a difference in pressure in to flow as aforesaid, a gas main connected with the incoming conduits, a plurality of gas supply pipes connected with said main, and means for definitely proportioning and regulating to the degree of accuracy re quired the rates of delivery of gases from said gas supply pipes to said gas main.

8. In an apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid material to the rent of gases. the combination of a receptacle for holding the material, an incoming gas conduit having gas discharging apertures buried in the material. an outgoing gas conduit having gas receiving apertures uried in the material.the apertures and the arrangcn'iem and juxtaposition of conduits being such that there will be an adequate flow of gases from one conduit to the other through the interstices of the intervening material, means for causing'such a difference in pressure in the incoming and outgoing conduits as will cause a current of gas to flow as aforesaid, a gas main connected with the incon'iing conduits, a pluralitv of gas supply pipes connected with said main, and means for definitely proportioning and regulating to the degree of accuracy required the rates of delivery of gases from said gas supply pipes to said gas main.

9. In an apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid materials to the action of a current of gases, the combination of a chamber for holding the material, a plurality of iucon'iing gas conduits having gas discharging apertures buried in the material. a pluralitv of outgoing gas conduits having gas receiving apertures buried in the material,- the apertures and arrangement and juxtaposition of the conduits being such that there will be an adequate flow of gases from the incoming to the outgoing conduits through the interstices of the intervening materiaL means for causing such a difference in pressure in the-incoming and out going conduits as will cause a current of gases to flow as aforesaid, means for delivering gas into the incoming gas conduits. and means for so preheating the. incoming gas current to the required tennicraturc before it comes in contact with said material.

10. In an apparatus for subjecting sub divided solid materials to the action of a current of gases, the combination of a receptacle for holding the materials, an incoming gas conduit having gas discharging aper tures buried in the material. an outgoing gas conduit having gas receiving apertures .buried in the the incoming and outgoing conduits as will cause a current of gas .means for so current to the the material need not action of a curarrangement and juxtaposition of .the co nduits being such that there will be an adequate flow of gases from one conduit to the other through the interstices of the intervening material, means for'causing such a difl' rence in pressure in the incoming and material,the apertures and outgoing conduits as will cause a current of gases to flow as aforesaid, means for delivering' gas into the incoming gas conduits, preheating the incoming gas required temperature before it comes in contact with said material that be'exposed to any ex ternally generated heat save that: conveyed by the current, and means for controlling and definitely regulating said preheati'n of the gas to the degree ofaccuracy require 11. In an apparatus for subjecting the subdivided-solid material to the-current of gases. the combination of -an'ore holding' chamber having -a' chargin opening above and a dischargeopening elow, means to cause a flow of gas-through the material in said chamber, and a movablenieasuring box located immediately an .openmg which registers with thedisc of said discharge opening to admit material to the box when this stands atone extreme, of its travel and said box having discharge openings in its bottom. and a'fixed floor 'bencath the box adapted to close the openings in the bottom of'the box when the'box is at one extreme of its travel, and havin open ings which register with the openings in the bottom of the box when the latter is at the latter extreme of its travel.

transversely extended partition-conduits arranged in parallel relation within said chamher and dividing the material therein into a plurality of thin sheets which permit an adequate flow of gases from one conduit to another through the interstices of said material,said conduits beingfzi'divided into incoming and-outgoing condufits which alternate with each other, the opposed faces of said partition-conduits having gas apertures which are buried 'in the material Within sa'd chamber. said apertures being constructed as a series of horizontal eaves, one above another. cach eave having on its upper side a self-discharging slope and underneath it a space into which the material cannot run, said space being in open communication with the interior of the conduit.

13. In an apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid material to the action of a current of gases. the combination of a chamber for holding the material, a series of upright transversely extended partition-conduits ararge end beneath the'discharge opening, the top of the 'box,;h;avin

her and dividing the material therein into a plurality of thin sheets which permit an ade quate flow of gases from one conduit to another through-the interstices ofsaidmaterial,-said conduits being-divided into inlooming and outgoing conduits which alter- I said artition-conduits having gas a ertures :whic are buried in the material wit in said chamber,---said gas apertures being in the a form-of a series of caves formed by i'ockin slats which are pivoted to the sides of said partition-conduits, and means for simultane- I ously rocking said slats in convenient 1 14. Inan apparatus for subjecting subdirided'solid materials to the action of a current of gases, the combination of a cham her for holding the material, a plurality of incominggas conduits having gas discharging apertures buried in the material within said chamber, a plurality of outgoing gas conduits having gas receiving, apertures buried .in the material,the apertures and the arrangement and juxtaposition of the conduits being such that there will be an adequate flow of gases from the incoming to the outgoing conduits through the inter- ,stices of the intervening material, means for causing'such a difference of pressure in the incoming and outgoing conduits as will on se a current of gases to flow as. afores: u ,-an incoming gas main connected with the incoming gas conduit, a lu-rality of gas and an outgoing gas main connected with supply pipes being so connected with the outgomgfigas main as to be supplied with outgoing git-S. I a "15. In n apparatus for subjecting subfldivided solid materials to the actionof a current' of gases, the combination of a chamfor holding thematerial, a plurality of incoming: gas conduits having gasdischarging apertures buried in the material within said chamber, a plurality of outgoing gas conduits having gas receiving apertures buried in the material,-the apertures and ithe 'arrangement and juxtaposition of the conduits being such that there will be an adequate flow of ses from the incoming to the outgoing condiiits through the interstices of the intervening material, means for causing such a difference of pressure inv the in-' coming and outgoing conduits as-will cause a current of gases to flowlas aforesaid,-an incoming. gas main connected with the incoming conduits, a; plurality'of gassupply menses ranged in. parallelrelat'ion within said chemmate with each other, the opposed faces of.

Isupply pipes connected wit] said main,

gthe outgoinggtas conduits,--one of the said" pipes which are'connectednvith saidmain, and a fuel combustion chaiiiiber with which one of said supply pipes is connected.

16. In an apparatus for subjecting subdivided solid materials to the action oi'a cur- 6'5 rent of gases, the combination of a chamber for holding the material, apluralit of incoming gas conduits baring gas discharging apertures buried in the'material within said chamber, a pluralityof outgoing gas con- A) duits having gas receiving apertures buried in the matcrmL -the apertures and the arrangement and juxtaposition'of the conduits beingsuch that there will be an adequate flow ofgases from the incoming to the out- 7 going conduits throu h the interstices of the intervening :-;.1natcria means for causing such a difference of pressure in the incoming and outgoingconduits as will cause a eurrent of gases to flow as aforesaid, an inso" coming gas main connected with said incoming conduit, a heating apparatus for pre' heating the gas before it is delivered Into said gas main, and means for by-passing any desired fraction of gas around said heating apparatus.

17. In an apparatus for subjecting subdividedsolid materials to the action of a current of gases, the combination of a chamber for holding the material, a series of upright incoming partition-conduits. a series of upright outgoing pal-tition-conduits which are arranged alternately with the incoming partitiomconduits, and in parallel close relation thereto whereby the space within said chamher is divided into a plurality of narrow ore cells,thc opposed M faces of said conduits haying gas apertures which are located in a zonewhoseupper level is a substantial distance .below the top of the chamber and whose lower level is a substantial distance above the bottom of the chamber, means for v admitting gas into the incoming partitionconduits, means for-[discharging gas from the outgoing partition-conduits, means for 105,

creating such difference in pressure that in the incoming partition-condilits as compared with the outgoing partition-conduits that gas willflow from the apertures in the former through the interstices of the mate rial in said ore cells and into the outgoing partition conduits through the apertures therein. i a

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. EDMUND KIRBY.

Witnesses i G. M.IIEALEY,

Lommna LITTLE. 

